"We've been spat at and threatened": Worcester retail worker shares experience of abuse at work
A petition calling for protection for staff will be debated by MPs today
A Worcester retail worker has shared her experiences of being abused at work.
It comes at a petition is set to be debated by MPs today in parliament on how to better protect retail and supermarket workers.
It's been signed by over 100,000 people and is calling for legislation to create a specific offence of abusing, threatening or assaulting a retail worker.
It's part of the #FreedomFromFear Campaign launched by USDAW, the Union of Shop, Distributive and Allied Workers.
Kate Macleod, who works at a high street clothing store in Worcester, said: "We've been spat at, we've had items thrown at us, some members of staff have been threatened.
"This is a problem that's been going on long before the pandemic though but that's what it's taken for people to really realise how big of an issue it is.
"It's just become the norm that it's okay to shout if you're disgruntled because it wouldn't happen it other areas of society.
Violence and abuse against shop workers has increased during the pandemic with the Co-op reporting a 76% rise in reports of anti-social behaviour and verbal abuse towards its staff in 2020 - with more than 100 incidents a day.
Kate continued: "When it gets to the point where you're taking it home and you're worried about coming to work it has all sorts of impacts.
"Mainly on your mental health, anxiety, how it makes you feel as a person and it can knock your confidence.
"But it also has that impact on the rest of your family as well."
The petition is calling for specific legislation to be introduced where offences against shop workers carry consequences to deter people from threatening staff and to make it clear makes clear that abuse of retail workers is unacceptable.
Kate added: "Legislation is definitely needed so that people feel there is something that they will get back from reporting it.
"Even if it's just closure of that feeling that it's not their fault or to know they didn't deserve to be spoken to like that.
"At the moment people think "why bother?" so I think legislation will definitely encourage more people to come forward and report the abusive experiences they have."